Can-topping machine



Feb. 19 1924.. HAMAQ c. J. HULTEN CAN TOPPING MACHINE Filed' Jur 1e` 2l1922 j] A. 2 .71T 92 fir/@nforcHA/P/ Es J. HULTE/v.

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Patented Feb. 19, 1924i.

t? te r CHARLES JOSEPH HULTEN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO OLIVER S. ORRICK, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-TOPPING BACHINE.

Application filed June 21, 1922.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, CHARLES J. HUL'rEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Can-Topping Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to a can topping machine and especially to thattype which is employed when. applying friction tops or like closures.

A great variety of products or articles of manufacture is today packedin cans and friction tops or covers are the only closures required as anabsolute hermetical seal is not necessary. For this reason it is more orless common practice to apply the tops or lids by hand. However wherepaint or other liquid products are being handled, uniform pressure asdseating is required when applying the lids as leakage might otherwisetake place.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a machine wherebythe lids may be forced into place and uniform pressure and seatinginsured;l to generally improve and simplify machines of this characterand to render the operation of applying and forcing the lids into placeautomatically and rapidly to permit large numbers of cans to be topped.Y

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

rlhe invention consists of the parts and the construction, combinationand arrangement of parts. as hereinafter more fully described andclaimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. lis a side elevation of the machine partly broken away and partly insection.

Fig. 2 is an end view partly broken away.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates a base frame supportedby legs, or standards as generally indicated at 2. The frame A consistsof interspaced side sections 3 which are tied together by cross bars orframes 4. Formed in the side sections 3 are journal members 5 andsupported thereby is a pair of cross shafts 6 and 7. Keyed or otherwisesecured to the shaft 7 is a pair of sprocketgears 8, and similarlysecured on the shaft 6 is a. pair of sprocket gears 9. The gears of therespective pairs are positioned to align and each aligned set of gearssupports an endless sprocket chain 10. These chains are in the presentinstance Serial No. 569,848.

connected by cross bars 11 and these in turn form an endless conveyor orplatform generally indicated at B, upon which the cans C are placed dring the topping operation hereinafter to be described. Forming a partof the side sections 3 of the main frame A, or secured thereto, as atl2, are uprights or standards which are arranged in pairs as indicatedat la and 15. rlhe upper ends of the standards are slot-ted as at 16,and they support a frame 17, consisting of a pair of side bars 18between which is journalled a plurality of rollers 19. The side bars ofthe frame, indicated at 18, are supported and secured by clamp screws 20and as these eX- tend through the slots 16, it is obvious that verticaland angular adjustment of the roller and supporting frame may beobtained. ln fact in actual practice it is necessary that the rollersupporting frame is vertically and angularly adjustable as cans ofvarious height must be taken care of, etc.

As stated in the preamble of this specication cans employing frictiontops are the only type of can handled by the present inachine. The cansare delivered to the endless conveyor B in any suitable manner, the lids22 having previously been placed thereon by manual operation orotherwise not here illustrated. The cans are placed on the forward endof the conveyor indicated at 24: and advance with the conveyor in thedirection of arrow a. directly under the roller supporting frame 17, andas this frame, together with the rollers journalled thereon, is disposedon an angle, it can be seen that pressure is gradually applied to thelid and it is thus gradually forced into place and is finally seatedwhen the last roller has been passed. An even pressure is thus appliedto the lid and uniform seating is insured, thus rendering the jointleakproof against paint and other similar ma terials. The cans may bedelivered to the machine in row formation and each can will thussuccessively discharge and may beremoved from the end indicated at 25 bymeans of a roller chute 26, or any other suitable means. The endlessplatforms presents a rigid support for the cans while the lids are beingapplied as the cross bars, forming the endless platform and carried bythe chains, are supported on a longitudinally extending bar 27, which issupported by the cross frames 4L. The bar 27 extends from end to end ofthemachine and not only supports the endless platform, but forms asubstantial guide therefor. The rollers 19 are journalled in anysuitable manner, for instance by antifriction means or the like in theside frames 18 and they are only rotated by frictional engagement withthe lids of the respective cans passing below the same. The conveyor Bmust hoW- ever be power driven and as this drive may be obtained bydifferent methods, I have merely illustrated the simple form of wormgear drive as lgenerally indicated at D; shaft 2S being driven in anysuitable manner not here shoivn.

The vtopping machine, forming the subject matter of the presentapplication, may be employed in conjunction with the filling andnf'eighing machine, and if such is the case the can will irst enter thefilling machine, then the Weighing machine, and Will finally have itslid applied to complete the operation When it reaches the endlessconveyor B. In that case all three machines might be driven in unison.For this reason it is obvious that the drive employed may be altered tosuit various conditions. Other changes in design and proportion may beresorted to within the scope of the appended claims, similarly thematerials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as theexperience and judgment of the manufacturerl may dictate or various usesmay demand.

By referring to Fig. l it will be noted that the last roller indicatedat 19a is slightly raised Vwith relation to the remaining rollers. Thisroller is known as the relief roller and serves the function ofrelieving the lid of pressure when it has been finally applied. Itserves another function, to-wit, that of reventing tilting or upsettingof the cans when they pass from under the rollers 19.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is l. A can topping machine comprising a main frame, apair of sprocket gears journalled at each end thereof, a pair of endlesschains carried by said gears, cross bars connecting said chains andforming an endless receiving and supporting platform, means fortransmitting a continuous drive to the sprocket gears and the chains andcross bars carried thereby, a longitudinal support engaging theunderside of the cross bars, means for delivering cans in line formationto the -endless platform, said cans being provided With lfriction lids,which have been loosely applied, a series of rollers successivelyengageable with the lids of the respective cans to force the lidsgradually into place, and a relieving roller disposed at the end of thefirst named rolls.

2. A can topping machine comprising a main frame, a pair of sprocketgears journalled at each end thereof, a-pair of endless chains carriedby said gears, cross bars connecting said chains and forming an endlessreceiving and supporting platform, means for transmitting a continuousdrive to the sprocket gears and the chains and `cross bars carriedthereby, a centrally disposed longitudinal support engaging theunderside of the cross bars and extending substantially from end to endof the chains, means for delivering cans in line formation to theendless platform, said cans being provided with friction lids Which havebeen loosely applied, a plurality of upright members arranged in pairson each side of the endless platform, a frame disposed between saiduprights, means permitting vertical adjustment of each end independentlyof the other, and a plurality of rollers journalled in the framecrossvvise of the endless platform.

onas. Josnri-r HUL'TEN.

